Land roller



'Jan. 15, 1929..

H. M. KILLIK LAND ROLLER Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet p LLFA ur Fig.1.

Inven tor 1/122 16m H. M. KILLIK LAND ROLLER Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 h' ii Fig.4- I Flgo5. Inventor y A -2.vw*

section.

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

HENRY MONTAGUE KILLIK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LAND ROLLER.

Application filed November 25, 1927, Serial No. 235,627, and in Great Britain May 18, 1927.

This invention relates to rollers that have a particular application forthe rolling of golf greens.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide simple and effective means so to connect a number of rollers together that while they may be drawn to and fro to roll over an uneven surface, the rollers are so mounted that they are adapted to accommodate themselves to the irregularity of the surface over which they are rolled, so that theweight is substantially uniformly distributed, and the surface may be substantially evenly rolled with expedition.

According to the invention in the production of a green or turf roller for use on golf orother courses I provide a number of rollers, advantageously made as cylinders of metal or of wood such as elm, which are so mounted that the respective frames by which they are connected together are adapted to pivot upon the substantially horizontal axis of a pin or bolt, whereby the rollers thus accommodate themselves to the inclination of the surface transversely to the line of their movement. Such a construction it will be understood permits of the rollers being readily interchangeable According to the invention, moreover, the frames are pivotally connected to frame members that are adapted to move in a substantially vertical plane, so that thus the rollers are permitted upward or downward movement as well asmovement on a substantially horizontal axis, so that thus they can accommodate themselves to any transverse inclination as well as to any rise or fall in the level of the ground, in the direction of their movement forward or rearward.

The invention comprises the constructional features hereinafter described.

A construction of rollers according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings byway of example.

Figure 1 is a front elevation in which the front rollers areomitted and the fork carrying frames are shown broken away.

lciligure 2 is a plan view partly in section, an v a Figure 3 is a side'elevation' also partly in Figures-4L and 5 are respective detail partial side elevation and front elevation showing the manner in which scrapers may be set when it is desired to clear the surfaces of the rollers.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the construction illustrated in the drawlngs I provide the rollers a in two juxtaposed series in parallel lines, there being for example three in front and four behind or vice versa, the respective rollers of each set being so positioned that the rollers of one set are disposed substantially opposite the interstitial space or spaces between the adjacent rollers of the other set or sets. Each roller is advantageously made of metal or wood such as elm, and each is provided with an axle formed by a tube 6, which is received into a sleeve or bush a and upon the ends of which may be mounted the respective ends of afork-frame fitting c which may be substantially horizontally disposed in the position of use. In the case of the middle roller of the set of three the forleframe 0 is securely fixed by means of two bolts to a vertically disposed connecting frame extending in position between the respective sets of rollers and consisting of two parallel plates (Z, (Z that are substantially vertically disposed at a determined distance apart, and are covered above and below by plates (Z held in position by bolts and of a width to. project slightly over the outer faces of the plates d d In the case of the two inner rollers of the set of four the frames 0 are pivoted on the connecting frame by single pivot pins 0 in suchmanner as to permit freedom of movement about the axis of the pin between the limits determined by the portions of the plates d overhanging the plates d al The pivot pins 0 serve also to connect the plates d d together and to secure to the connecting frame lugs 6 adapted to receive the pivot pin f of a handlef, through which therollers are moved.

The frames oof the respective side rollers of the two sets are respectively pivoted at 0 to separate pivoting plates or bars 9 that are disposed with one end bet-ween the two parallel plates d al before referred to, but in such manner that the pivoting plates or bars 5/ are free partially to rotate upon pivot pins such as those 0 respectively by which the rollers before referred to are connected, so that thus the side rollers of the set of three are by reason of their being connected to the pivoting bars or plates, free to move partially with respect to the parallel plates d d to whichthey areconnected within the limits determined by the plates 6Z2. In order to limit the extent of theirpossible movement about the pivot pins of the frames 0 of the said rollers, there are provided stop plates or members 9 in the form of vertically disposed plates having the upper and lower ends bent transversely to the pivot plates or bars 9, so that the extremities project beyond the plates or bars 9. The stop members 9 are conveniently secured in position by means of the pivot pins 0 The plate (Z of the connecting frame is advantageously provided shorter than the plate (Z in order to provide space for the frames 0 of the outer rollers of the set of three rollers.

Instead of providing two parallel plates cl (Z a bar such as (Z of channel cross section may instead be used and a plate or bar such as (Z to extend across the opening in the section of the bar (Z so that thus a box like cavity is formed within which the pivoting bars 9 may be provided of a smaller channel cross section. The cross section of the pivoting bars 9 may be disposed in opposite position to the cross section of the bar cl and the pivoting bolts may pass through the respective bars d, plate (Z and pivoting bars 9. In such a construction the use of the plates (Z is dispensed with.

The axles b of the rollers in the construction illustrated in the drawings are conveniently formed by lengths of tubing the extremities of which are partly cut away at b for the reception of the ends of the fitting forming the frame 0 which is secured in position by means of an axial pin or bolt 5 secured in position by a nut b together with a spring washer. The bolt or pin 6 advantageously passesthrough wood bosses 6' disposed within the tube forming the axle b.

The handle 7 is conveniently provided as a fork-frame of metal in which is mounted a wooden shaft f having a transverse handle member 7. The handle is mounted in the lugs e of the connecting frame by means of the pivot pin f and in order to limit the movement of the frame f about the pivot pin f the lugs e are conveniently provided with transverse portions 6 having the ends bent at right angles to form stops 6 with which the fork portions of the handle f may engage; or instead or in addition elastic plugs of india-rubber may be inserted in determined position on the wooden shaft f or in any other suitable position so that when the apparatus is out of use the frame f may rest upon one or more of the rollers. Any suitable means may be provided for scraping off any adhesions of earth or grass that mayaccumulate on the rollers after use. For the purpose as illustrated in Figures t and 5 a scraper k may be mounted beneath and upon the respective fork-frames 0, the scrapers being set upon a rod 71 that may extend from one stem to the other of the fork-frame to pass through holes provided therein. At one end the 1 rod b may be formed to a hook shape with one part 71, disposed parallel with the main part of the rod, and adapted to enter a second hole in the adjacent stem of the fork-frame-the position of the second hole being so determined that when the part it assumes that position the scraper will be disposed with its lower edge in contact with the roller. The scraper h is set upon. the rod with a slight amount of play, whereby a helical spring havingv one end secured to the adjacent part of the fork-frame 0 and the other to the adjacent part of the scraper, presses the lower edge of the scraper against the roller with elastic pressure.

It will be understood that when it is de sired to put the scrapers out of use the part b may be axially moved outwards and may be brought into alignment with a third hole to enter it whereby the scraper also is moved and its lower edge is set away from the roller, and the rod may be retained in the position under the action of the helical spring 72/ Any other means may be employed to mount the scrapers so as to be capable of being put out of use. 7

The central roller of the set of three in the construction described may be so connected to the parallel disposed plates (Z (Z by means of a horizontally disposed pivot pin that it may be free to move up or down or may be held in stationary position. ever, be understood that the rising and falling movement of the respective rollers may be permitted in any other manner than that indicated. Thus the fork-frame fittings instead of being directly connected'to the plates or other parts serving for the connection together of the rollers may be so connected that some of the rollers other than those used for the support of the connecting parts or members may, for example, permit of the relative movement upwardly 0r downwardly 0f the respective rollers, and in such case the horizontally disposed pivot pins may be provided with transverse bosses through which the rear transverse part of the forleframe fittings may pass, so that thus each of such rollers is permitted a relative vertical movement as well as a movement upon the axis of the respective pivot pins.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the means specifically described for connecting the respective rollers together, nor to the means by which movement may be imparted through a handle. Where parallel disposed plates or bars are provided for the connection of the respective rollers together in the manner described, the ends of a handle frame maybe secured to the plates by suitable pins or bolts in determined positions, and the handle frame may be diverted rearwardly for convenience in the operation; or again the handle frame may It will, howbe pivotally mounted so that the rollers may tions hereinbefore specifically described the two rollers of the set of four, and the central roller of the set of three are connected to the same part, and thus are not relatively movable except on the horizontal axes of the pins by which they are connected.

The construction of the axles for the rollers may be effected in any convenient man ner; thus, instead of the construction hereinbefore described, the ends of the arms of the frames 0 may be turned inwardly into the axle tubes 79 and may be secured by means of bolts Z2 which are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of the tube so that the bushes may be dispensed with.

I claim 1. Land rollers more especially intended for the rolling of golf greens comprising rollers, frame members to which the said rollers are connected, said frame members being adapted to move in a substantially vertical plane normal to the direction of forward or rearward movement of the rollers whereby the rollers are permitted upward and downward movement to follow any rise or fall in the level of the ground traversed, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. A land roller more especially intended for the rolling of golf greens comprising a common frame member, frame members parallel disposed with and respectively pivotally connected to the said common frame member and adapted to move in a substantially vertical plane in relation to the said common frame member and rollers connected respectively to the said common frame member and to the said frame members, the said rollers being adapted to move upon substantially horizontal axes disposed substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the said rollers, substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. A land roller more especially intended for the rolling of golf greens comprising a common frame member, frame members parallel disposed with and respectively pivotally connected to the said common frame member and adapted to move relatively to the said common frame member in a substantially vertical plane, rollers respectively connected to the said common frame member and to the said frame members, the frame members connected to the said common frame member being adapted by their connection to the said common frame member to permit of their free upward or downward movement in relation to the said common frame member, substantially as hereinbefore described.

4. A land roller more especially intended for the rolling of golf greens comprising a common frame member, frame members parallel disposed with and respectively pivotally connected to the said common frame member and adapted to move in a substantially vertical plane in relation to the said common frame member and rollers connected respectively to the said common frame member and to the said frame members, the said rollers being adapted to move upon substantially horizontal axes disposed substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the said rollers and scrapers for the said rollers, the said scrapers being adapted to be put out of use, substantially as hereinbefore described.

5. Land rollers more especially intended for the rolling of golf greens comprising a number of rollers, frames in which the said rollers are mounted, frame members to which the said frames are pivotally connected on substantially horizontal axes, said frame members being relatively movable in a substantially vertical plane normal to the direction of forward or rearward movement of the rollers, substantially as hereinbefore described.

HENRY MONTAGUE KILLIK. 

